Today I am sharing another coin awaiting a mylar holder and placement into my world coins album. This, as the title states, is a 1939 New Zealand 3 Pence. It contains 50% silver, weighs only 1.4 grams, minted in London, and has a plain edge to it.
One thing I like about collecting foreign coins is that I am always learning something when I research the designs. Usually it is about the person who's portrait is on the obverse of the coins. However in this case I learned more about the people who are represented on the reverse of the coin.
The obverse above displays a portrait of King George the VI of Great Britian, with legend around the edge ensuring everyone knows who is in charge of their emprire. I decided to not research much into him, as I understood him to be Queen Elizabeth's father and that was enough for me.
What I was interested in was what was on the reverse.
The reverse displays two carved Patu, which I found out to be short handled clubs used by the Maori people of New Zealand. They are the native people of New Zealand.
The maori people are decended from Eastern Polynesian peoples. They used the Patu were clubs used in battle and for other purposes, like breaking up roots and softening flax.
There were different types of Patu as well. Some where made from wood, some from different stone like volcanic or greenstone. Then some would be made from bone like that of a whales jawbone. Later some would even be made with iron.
If you get a chance, look up the Maori Haka dance on Youtube. It is very interesting.
If you have any further information about this coin you would like to add, like historical information I left out or want to correct any I may have gotten wrong, please drop it in the comments.
Thanks for reading,
Joe
Notes:
-All content is mine unless otherwise annotated.
-Images are my own unless otherwise noted.
-Photos edited using MS Paint or iPhone SE.
-Page Dividers from The Terminal Discord.
